Electric switch



E. Vl HARTFORD.

ELECTRIC SWIVICH.

APPucmon mio ocr. al. 191s.

1,391,955. V Patentedsepn 27,1921.

UNITED ,srATESJ PATENT. OFFICE.

EIWARD VASSALLO HARTFORD, OF DEAL, NEW JERSEY.

LELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters latcnt. Pittlited Sept. 27, 1921 originaleppiie'atiea inea August 27, 1914, serial Ne. 858,959. Renewed october19,1918, serieu No; 258,909. Divided and this application led October31, 1918. Serial No. 260,456.

To all w tem t may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD VAssALLo HARTFORD,a citizen of the United States, residing at Deal, county of Monmouth,and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electric Switches, of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, is a full, clear, and concisedescription.

This invention relates to an electric switch which is more particularlydesigned so that a minimum amount of sparking results when the switch ismanipulated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch in which the pathof the moving contacts in closing the switch is different from theirpath when the switch is opened. This results in maintaining` thecontacts smooth and clean.

Another object is to provide a double throw switch in which the switchis normally maintained open.

This application is a division of my copending application forelectrically open ated brakes, Serial No. 858,958, filed August 27,1914, renewed October 19, 1918, Serial No. 258,909.

In the Vdrawings wherein I have illustrated an embodiment of my improvedswitch, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 2, is a detailedside elevation of the switch partly in section showing it fully closed;Fig. 3 is an elevation of the switch partly opened.

The insulating' base 4 supports at one end a plurality of pairs 5 offixed contacts. Each pair is adapted to receive and hold a movableswitch contact 6. On the other end of the base 4 is similarly mounted aplurality of pairs of fixed contacts 7, each adapted to similarlyreceive and hold a movable contact 8. The insulating base 4 alsosupports, intermediate the contacts 5 and the contacts 7, suitableuprights 9 and 10. Between the uprights 9 and 10, the crossbar 11 ispivotally mounted at 12. The cross-bar 11 carries rigidly therewith andin electrical contact with the uprights, rigid conducting elements 13and 14.` These conducting elements extend on each side of the pivotalmounting as shown. The movable switch contacts 6 and 8 which coperatewith the fixed contacts 5 and 7 respectively, are each pivotally mountedas at 15 and 16 on the conducting elements 13 or 14. A suitable leafspring 18 is mounted on each of the conducting elements 13 and 14. Eachof the knife blades 6 and 8 are provided with a short pin 19 to coperatewith a leaf spring in the manner shown. Intermediate the uprights 9 and19underneath the crossebar 11, a suitable block 20 is supported by theinsulating base 4. The block 2O carries a spring 21. Suitable crossconnecting leads 22 and 23 are provided so that the switch may beoperated for reversing the current flow. A handle 24is connected to thecrossbar 11.

The switch as above described is adapted for opening and closing thecircuit with the minimum sparking. This is accomplished by the quickbreak brought about by the flexed springs 18 which quickly snap thecontacts 6 or 8 away from the xed contacts 5 or 7, respectively. Thespring 21 is so arranged that it urges the switch-toward open positionand is powerful enough to force the switch open when external force isremoved from the operating handle 24.

kswitch element moves through a different path on account of the factthat it is held between the spring contacts 5 or 7 while the handle 24is moved a considerable distance. The contact is drawn lengthwise towardthe pivotal mounting 12 a short distance during this movement of handle24. A further and nal movement is brought about by the tension in thespring 18 and this movement is about the pivotal mounting 15 or 16 whichis different from they pivotal mounting 12. In this way the switchblades travel through a dierent path in making the circuit than they doin breaking the circuit, and thereby the contacts are kept smooth andclean.

I desire it to be understood that the showing inthe drawings and thedescription in the specification are to be considered as illustrating myinvention rather than remedying the same.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new herein anddesireto se ure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric switch comprising an insulating base, uprights mountedcentrally thereon, an insulating block pivotally mounted in the upright,Contact carriers vhereby a having lateral extensions from each side ofthe block, each carrier being in electrical Contact with an upright, aContact pivotecl to each of Said extensions, a spring conneeting eachContact with its extension and fixed contacts on the base tofrictionally cooperate with the rst mentioned contacts quick break maybe obtained when the sprlng is tensioned.

2. A switch, as defined in claim l characterized by resilient means tomaintain all of the first mentioned contacts away from the fixedcontacts when no external force is applied to the pivoted structure.

EDWARD VASSALLO HARTFORD.

